Olmeda de la Cuesta has been trying for years to avoid the fate of so many towns in inland Spain: empty streets, shuttered houses, and residents who can be counted on the fingers of one hand—or the fingers of both hands, at best.
This small municipality in the province of Cuenca, located about two hours from Madrid, has barely more than twenty permanent residents. It has now attracted attention once again for a measure as simple as it is unusual: auctioning off plots of land starting at 100 euros to attract new residents.
The call for bids from Olmeda de la Cuesta
The City Council has launched a public call for bids on plots of land priced between 100 and 3,000 euros. The idea is not new in rural Spain, but the context in which it is taking place is. Olmeda de la Cuesta is trying to survive by combining affordable housing, cultural tourism, and a unique identity that is already beginning to attract visitors from outside Castilla-La Mancha.
To access the auctions and programs promoted by the Olmeda de la Cuesta City Council, interested parties must contact the council directly, which manages the process on a personalized basis due to the municipality’s small size.
The proposal is aimed especially at young families, remote workers, and people interested in starting a business away from big cities. To participate in the auctions, you must be a citizen of the European Union or have a legal residence permit in Spain. It is also mandatory to register as a resident of the municipality once the plot or home has been purchased.
Living among stone houses and rural silence
Olmeda de la Cuesta retains the character of many villages in the Serranía de Cuenca: narrow streets, stone facades, and steep slopes.
The local economy has traditionally been tied to agriculture, livestock, and some construction work, although the town council wants to explore new avenues related to rural tourism.
The museum of vintage advertisements that has given the village a second life
The great uniqueness of Olmeda de la Cuesta also lies in its facades. A few years ago, the municipality began a project to restore the aesthetics of the old painted advertisements that for decades lined roads and village entrances across Spain. This may remind one of the uniqueness of Fresnedilla de la Oliva, in Madrid, which is covered in graffiti.
What began with a single mural ended up becoming an open-air museum with more than 90 historic advertising posters scattered throughout its streets.
Today, you can see reproductions of iconic brands, advertising tiles, and pieces that evoke mid-20th-century Spain. Among them is a huge Osborne Bull with the original lettering and the characteristic white horns of the old designs, as well as references to Michelin, Tío Pepe, and Schweppes.